Both teams had an opportunity to take the lead early on, but each were denied by the woodwork. First, it was James Moberg for the visitors who struck the post in the ninth minute before Cameron Iwasa followed suit with a header that hit the bar three minutes later.

Wilson Kneeshaw earned a penalty kick in the 52nd minute after he was taken down on by Monarchs keeper Jake Leeker. Iwasa just inside the box, who was celebrating his 25th birthday on the night, stepped up to take the kick and placed it to Leeker’s right hand side, but his shot struck the post for a second time.

Luis Espino also had a scoring chance on a breakaway with 10 minutes to go, but his shot skimmed just wide of the post.

Emrah Klimenta made his official return to the pitch for Republic FC when he came on as a substitute for Elliott Hord in the 77th minute, but was unable to place a free kick on target a few minutes after his introduction.

The match ended in a scoreless draw as Republic FC earn a point that sees them now place sixth in the Western Conference.

“Points dropped,” said Republic FC Head Coach Simon Elliott on the match. “Honestly, I thought we should have walked away with four points from our two matches with them and instead they have four and we have one.”